Blue Jays Reportedly Weighing David Price Trade

The Toronto Blue Jays have made some modest moves in free agency to shore up their starting rotation heading into the 2020 season, but they might still be looking to make a major splash.

Per Ken Rosenthal, the Jays are mulling a possible reunion with Boston Red Sox southpaw David Price.

While an inner-division trade may seem unlikely, let's not forget that the Jays traded Steve Pearce to the Red Sox, who would then go on to win the World Series MVP in Boston. While Price is a much higher-caliber player, the two AL East teams have done business in the past, so the door is open there.

A trade for Price would immediately improve the Jays' rotation, while also helping the Red Sox in their effort to get under the luxury tax.

Price, of course, spent half of a season with Toronto in 2015, logging a 2.30 ERA in 11 starts, earning himself a second-place finish in AL Cy Young voting. He departed for the Red Sox in free agency, and since then, the quality of the Jays' rotation has steadily decreased.

Price himself, however, has also fallen off a bit of late. The veteran southpaw logged a 4.28 ERA across 107.1 innings last year, making 22 starts. He also had an injury-shortened season in 2017 during which he made 16 appearances (five in relief).

Still, the deal makes sense for both parties, and with the quality of arms on the free agent market rapidly dwindling, a trade for their former ace could be Toronto's best option.